My 2020 Goals In Review

In January 2020, I created a list of goals, as many people probably also did. While extensive, I thought they were all possible, if I committed the appropriate time and attention. Of course, adjusting home and work life to an ongoing pandemic was an unforeseen circumstance.

Regardless, here is how I fared:

Sign Agent for 1st Novel – Work in progress. I submitted 74 queries to agents, and received no takers. I am perplexed by authors who speak of sending hundreds of query letters. I cannot find hundreds of potential agents or agencies. Maybe those interested in fantasy represent only a small percentage of the overall population. It’s a mystery. One agent asked to be considered for a future work. Which was nice. Several agents explained they did not know how to market my novel, a fantasy thriller. This exposes the many flaws in my query letter and synopsis which need to be addressed before resuming the quest.

Write 1st Draft of New WIP – Work in progress. I consolidated all my notes and chapters of my time tripping thriller into an 80-page “Draft 0” and began writing the first draft. I am only a third finished so it is looking to be a 1st Quarter project.

Outline YA WIP – Work in progress. This is a fun alternate history sci-fi adventure, set in a very different 2022. I am at the phase of drafting index cards of potential chapter content, both detailed and vague. I like this project because it was born of two unrelated stories that were going nowhere, until I thought, “What if I drop these characters into this story?” and it clicked like Tetris.

Post 1st Animation – No progress. Before I can create my desired animation project, I have to learn animation, sound recording, sound editing, and video editing. I have many of the tools and equipment, but this needs to be the sole focus for an extended period of time, and this did not happen in 2020.

Post 1st Web Comic – Little progress. I have sketches of several series ideas. It’s a matter of choosing one and moving forward. This just wasn’t a high priority.

Post Regular Deep In The Keep Content – I shall deem this successful. I posted twelve articles on this site in 2020, resulting in 5,177 views. My most read articles were about World of Warcraft and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but I also posted about television, movies, and myself. My 2021 goal will be increasing frequency to twice a month (This article is one down!). This may appear to conflict with novel writing, but I find maintaining a blog a pleasant change of pace from working on a manuscript. I think of it as a form of creative cross-training.

Live Healthier and Happier – Mixed bag. I was running regularly through the summer and was getting the blood pressure down, but snacking kept the weight from dropping as fast as it could have. Once the cold and darkness settled in, I stopped running and my weight returned. My doctor wanted me to lose 15 pounds. I ended up gaining three. I need to face my food demons. I recently took a big step forward.

I wrote an article early in 2020 about my anxiety. I came to realize relatively recently that it was responsible for decades of issues and depression. In late 2020, I had a honest discussion of what I have been experiencing with my doctor, and soon started medication. Two weeks later, I was working through a crazy, chaotic day, when I realized I was in control of the madness erupting from my Inbox and phone. I wasn’t overwhelmed, doomed, or enraged. I was taking everything in stride, organizing my tasks, and following through to completion. I still feel anxiety and stress, but not at the old soul crushing levels. I am beginning the new year feeling more like “me” than I have in ages. I still have the weight to lose, but lower anxiety means less stress eating. Bonus.

Be Myself – Getting closer.

Okay. Those were my 2020 goals. I am still working on my 2021 goals. I will have them finalized soon.

Thanks for dropping by and have a great New Year!